I just love the character of Spenser. Quite a lot like Harry Dresden--not surprisingly: Jim cites Parker as one of his influences. A woman is missing, her husband is a cop & friend of Spenser's. When the cop is shot, Spenser goes looking for the wife. Surprisingly complex, and the ending was... different. In a good way. The periodic glimpses into what was happening with the wife were reminiscent of when Nora shows us what the killer is thinking in the In Death books, and I had the same reaction to it: it's interesting, but it takes something away from the mystery, & I'd prefer the book without it. ( )

PI Spenser must look for the missing wife of a friend; who readers know has been kidnapped by a former lover.

Lisa St. Claire, second wife of long-time Spenser ally Det. Frank Belson, has gone missing. When Belson is shot multiple times, Spenser takes over the search for her. Readers are privy to what has happened to Lisa; she has been kidnapped by her former lover, a current gangster named Luis Deleon, and is being held prisoner in Hispanic Proctor. Spenser doesn't have this information, and must go digging into Lisa's past to figure out where and who she is. His search brings him back in contact with uber-gangster Del Rio, and Chollo, a sort-of Hispanic Hawk. Together, Chollo and Spenser work to free Lisa from her captivity.

A lot shorter than other Spenser books, this one changes up the formula by letting the reader know more than Spenser does. Parker is a good writer, lyrical and tight, but he only knows how to write two types of women -- perfect (i.e. paramour Susan) and troubled -- usually by bad choices in men/sex. Lisa St. Clair is no exception. Overall, this is a fast, entertaining read; but, I miss Hawk. His humor and lack of pompousness would have helped here. ( )